Creating Positive Habits

He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously. (Daniel 6:10)

Habits are not always bad. Showering, flossing, brushing my teeth, and shaving are daily habits and gifts to my wife and everyone I meet daily. In “3 Small Habits That Will Improve Your Motivation for Anything,” Nick Wignall helps define my thoughts. “Feeling motivated makes it easier to act, but acting also leads to feeling motivated.” I am motivated to get clean in the morning to get my morning kiss. Yet, when Jill leaves early for work, I am so entrenched in my cleaning routine that not cleaning up would feel uncomfortable. So, I cleaned up even without the promised morning kiss. Wignall’s thoughts hold true regardless of the routine. It applies to working out, meditation and prayer, or attending Sunday morning worship.

To improve motivation and create healthy habits, Wignall challenges you to “Sharper Your Why.” Routines can feel mind-numbing, but when you understand the “why,” the practice has meaning. Why clean up? Because I get the kiss! Why meditate? Because I feel calm and experience God’s presence! By asking “why,” we provide the feeling of control, allowing us to own our routines.

Finally, Wignall calls us to “Create a Painfully Specific Plan.” When I was younger, I thought spontaneity was more exciting, and I resisted specific plans unless they were required professionally. On my days off, I would “play it by ear” and “see what I felt like.” The problem with my earlier philosophy was that I had often wasted half a day by the time I evaluated what I wanted to do. “A plan involves not only the goal or outcome but a series of steps or actions, each of which incrementally moves you toward the end goal.” Even something as simple as going for a bike ride can become more manageable with a plan. I oil the chain and check the tire pressure the night before I ride, so in the morning, I can just hop on my bike.

Today, reflect on your necessary habits. Are you intentional in seeing the motivation for why you are doing them? You can clarify your practices by asking why you are doing them. Is the payoff worth the time? Is your plan specific and doable? Now, ask yourself if there are other habits you should adopt. What spiritual activities and disciplines have you been putting off as a person of faith? I stopped playing guitar several years ago. I feel God is calling me to pick up the instrument again as part of my spiritual practice. I must define my motivation, confirm my rationale for the commitment necessary, and develop a plan to insert routine into my already busy schedule.

Now, it’s your turn! What are you going to create as your next positive habit?